Merlin Entertainments officially opens LEGO® Discovery Center Washington, D.C.

Merlin Entertainments, a global leader in location-based entertainment, announces that LEGO^® Discovery Center Washington, D.C. is now open for visitors to experience building adventures, an immersive ride and much more.

The attraction builds on the wider partnership Merlin has with the world-famous LEGO brand across the globe, which includes next generation LEGO® Discovery Centers, LEGOLAND® Discovery Centers and LEGOLAND® Resorts globally, including LEGOLAND theme parks and hotels, over four continents.

To mark the grand opening, the attraction held a ribbon cutting event with invited members of the local community. The day kicked off with a parade featuring the local Herndon High School drumline and a performance by the Dance Academy of Loudoun, followed by remarks from members of the LEGO Discovery Center team, the PREIT team (owner and operator of Springfield Town Center), and Fairfax County Board of Supervisors - Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk, plus plenty of fun surprises. Local members of the community and their children were then the first to experience the new immersive attraction.

LEGO Discovery Center Washington, D.C. is a next-generation LEGO Discovery Center, reimagined with a brand-new look and design, allowing more family learning through play activities. A team of playmakers and Master Model Builders, lead by Master Model Builder Andrew Litterst, will deliver fun, inspirational, and creative workshops to guests.

The new LEGO Discovery Center formula builds on the success of previous LEGOLAND Discovery Centers, with the development of brand new and enhanced LEGO play areas. Zones guests can look to experience include:

• DUPLO^® Park - The smallest builders can learn and play, solve puzzles, build with LEGO^® DUPLO^® and watch ducklings in the duck pond.
• Building Adventure - An entire area dedicated to playing and creating with LEGO bricks is where the imagination runs wild and creative skills are tested.
• Mini World - Explore and play in a revamped world of awesome LEGO builds, made from more than 1.5 million bricks.
• Imagination Express - Travel through an oversized LEGO world on an unforgettable train ride. Along the track, there are game points to collect and moving LEGO models, as well as some Space Pirates who may not be so happy to see guests!
• Make Your Minifigure - Choose from tons of LEGO heads, bodies, and legs to build a custom mini-figure. Make the craziest, the coolest, or the hairiest of them all.
• Creative Club - Amazing Playmakers give guests a helping hand with daily building activities, from mosaic making to painting portraits with LEGO.
• LEGO Tree of Imagination - The Tree of Imagination is packed with color and is made entirely of LEGO. Plant your ideas on the trunk or branches and be inspired by the Master Model Builders who will challenge guests every hour with fun building activities. Our Playmakers will help you work your creative muscles in this amazing building zone before taking a photo and heading on to your next adventure.
• The LEGO Cafe - Take a break, grab some food, and don't forget to feed the LEGO^® DUPLO^® horse before you go.
• Hero Zone - LEGO City meets LEGO NINJAGO^® in fast-paced hero adventures, including a LEGO laser maze, a climbing wall and a crazy action game.
• 4D Cinema - Take a seat in the only cinema that has its own weather system, where LEGO movies come to life, and extraordinary adventures begin.
• The Workshop - Meet the team of Master Model Builders as they guide guests through building special LEGO builds. Learn some unique insider tips & tricks!
• Space Mission - Reach for the stars in an extraordinary building experience from LEGO® Tech. Design and build a LEGO spaceship, take the helm and launch into cyberspace. Zoom through the galaxies on your own space adventure, and to make it even more fun, friends and family can also join you on your adventure via the screen.

LEGO Discovery Center Washington, D.C. is offering “First to Play Days” from 10^th to 13^th August for families who wish to be among the first to experience the attraction. From 14^th August, LEGO Discovery Center Washington, D.C. will be fully open to the public, with tickets available online to purchase in advance.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit legodiscoverycenter.com/washington-dc.